Universally Speaking

It seems to me that he saw this woman who appeared to be beautiful and carefree from afar. But once he took a closer look, he could see that she was as emotionally broken as he was. And through the internal torment that they both shared, he felt that perhaps there was some sort of connection. He could see himself in her and it was painful yet beautiful to watch. He thought that maybe for one night they could be together and make each other happy by either indulging in their own vices, without any judgement. Or, to just be in the company with someone who truly understands who you are. But they both knowingly make the decision to revel in the false sense of joy that the moment provides. All through the song the word 'Still' pops up. It seems to indicate that he saw her true beauty inspite of who she really was, and longed for the same.

i think talks about a relationship. and he says that he loves her.

I think the key to the meaning of this song has been provided by Coran who realised (or discovered) that the latin noun Lupa means both She-wolf and prostitute. Once the subject has been identified, the meaning of the lyrics becomes clearer: "I saw your face elegant and tired, cut up from the chase,..." This is obviously referring to the contrast between the fine clothes/jewellery/make-up and the worn-out mind/body/spirit of a drug-addicted prostitute chasing clients to get the money to chase the drugs to feed her addiction. "...still I so admired bloodshot your smile,..." This is self explanatory though I guess that describing her smile as bloodshot refers both to the blood-red lipstick of a working girl and the quality of a smile influenced by a shot of drugs into the bloodstream. "...delicate and wild..." This is obviously referring on the one hand to her feminine vulnerability and on the other to her wayward nature and/or lifestyle. "but give me she-wolf style. Rip right through me." In other words "...but come on baby, apply your professional skills to the max. "Silveretta the jets of a lifetime..." Perhaps this girl has bleached-white hair and is called Loretta; I don't know, but Anthony is obviously referring to her in terms of the amazing ejactulations which predominently she but probably also he has when they do their thing. "Go and get her; the feeling is so fine." I think "Go and get her" is directed at the employee/s responsible for bringing her to him. "Simply put, I saw your love stream flow." Again reference to Silveretta's voluminous ejactulations. "Come on baby cos their's no name for... (...what I want to do to you/you to do to me). Give it up and I got what I came for." in other words "Acceed to my request." "Universally speaking I take it back and you make me nervous." Anthony backs down. "Nothing better than love and service." referring to the fact that he considers her skills as a professional to be unbeatable. "Universally speaking I win in the long run." He gets what he wants in the end. "I saw your crime dying to get high." I think he is referring to the crime of prostitution which she comitted with him while in need of a fix. "Two of a kind beats all hands tonight" Referring to Anthony's own history of heroin/cocaine addiction and I think "all hands" refers to the show of hands presented nightly by the myriad of groupies in response to the question "Who wants to sleep with Anthony tonight?"

Oh, I forgot! Universally Speaking...they say that music is a universal language. Perhaps there is a connection there?

It is not exactly sublte, jets of a lifetime and I saw your love stream flow... he's talking about orgasm. But that does not necesserily make it a song about sex, it can well be a love song, the fact he's made such a happy song about it probably shows that he loved that girl..

what does 'Universally speaking' mean? is it just same as 'generally speaking'? or 'don't have to speak, because very true' meaning?

I am not an Enlgish boy, so can't catch the nuance(the shade of meaning). plz someone let me know.

i think ophelia got it right. There's one night in my life which I call the most profound experience of my life. I was at work, retail, and was a borderline heartbroken man from the unrequieted love whom I worked with for over a year. That night, in a perfect storm of events, I was just ready to surrender to my brain and move on, which was hard to think over, but I wanted my love (who was working with me that night) to kill my misery. All of a sudden, a customer who I saw came in and was going through something like me, something I could recognize only because it was universal, she was hopelessly heartbroken too. Her face was "elegant" and "tired." Still beautiful, with her "wild" eyes. I beieved I saw her "crime" so easily cuz I was guilty of it too. We were two of a kind, universally speaking. That was 7 years ago. It's funny what I guy remembers. I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since then when I haven't thought of that young girl.

he may be talking about a relationship, but i don't think it's a very healthy one.... "give it up and i got what i came for... i win in the long run". what do you think?

I heard on the radio that this song speaks about the moon. I'm not sure if it's true or not but yeh...

I think this song is about sex with groupies. Anthony was known for his numerous and young girlfriends, I could only imagine what he's like on the road. I agree that it is about a rather unhealthy relationship, and i think that the song doesn't try to hide that. It has a distinctly different and less appreciative tone than some of their other 'love' songs. Also, on the record, he doesn't say "Still I waited..." he says "Silveretta." It's on the liner notes.